Pre-game notes (Jones, Pridie, Dickerson, Tillman)

He said the decision not to start Adam Jones today but was to give him a break both physically and mentally. He could pinch-hit him to keep alive Jones' 322 consecutive-games played streak, but Showalter also said he liked the idea of allowing Jones to be completely removed from a game.

Jones has always talked – usually jokingly – about trying to catch Cal Ripken’s 2,632 consecutive game mark. But the past few weeks he has looked both tired and injured as he pushed toward the stretch run

“Yeah, Cal’s record is still on lock right now. If I play, it’s still active? Well then I’ll be itching to get an at-bat just to keep it alive,” Jones said. “I wanna approach that. It’s such an impressive streak. But I need a day man. … I hope somehow I can contribute. I’ll be a cheerleader just how I always am for my teammates.”

Showalter said Chris Dickerson continues to be bothered by a right hamstring strain. Because Dickerson is not available, the Orioles decided to add 29-year-old outfielder Jason Pridie to the active roster and immediately insert him in the lineup in center field. Showalter said the club had considered Pridie, a favorite of Norfolk manager Ron Johnson, much of the season, but he never fit what the roster needed.

“Ronny said he was one of if not his best everyday player,” Showalter said. “He just never fit the whole season, but he was close quite a few times.”

To add Pridie to the roster, the Orioles moved Manny Machado to the 60-day disabled list.

Showalter said he is still not positive whether Chris Tillman will make Sunday’s start or whether the club will shut down the 25-year-old right-hander. If Tillman doesn’t pitch Sunday, the start won’t go to lefty Tsuyoshi Wada. Showalter said he doesn’t expect Wada to be recalled.

T.J. McFarland is leaving Thursday morning to deal with a family issue in Chicago, but he should be back by game time Thursday.